Two cops held for taking bribe from businessman in Thane

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Thane, on Monday night arrested a sub-inspector and a constable of Virar police station for taking a bribe of Rs 60,000 from a small businessman

Sub-inspector Tushar Bhadane, one of the two cops arrested

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Thane, on Monday night arrested a sub-inspector and a constable of Virar police station for taking a bribe of Rs 60,000 from a small businessman.

According to the ACB, the complainant, who runs a construction material supply business, often takes sand from Chandip Bunder, Virar. The sub-inspector, Tushar Bhadane (29), and constable, Babasaheb Shelar (33), who are Virar residents, would stop the businessman’s sand trucks and demand a bribe to allow them to pass.

ACB sources said the cops demanded Rs 60,000 and had already taken Rs 50,000 from the complainant. The complainant was even told to give a fixed amount as monthly 'hafta' to get his trucks cleared regularly.

Frustrated by this demand, the complainant approached the Thane ACB and lodged a complaint. On Monday morning, ACB officials first arrested constable Shelar red-handed at the Mandavi outpost while taking Rs 10,000 and later arrested sub-inspector Bhadane after it was revealed that Shelar took the bribe on his instructions.

Both have been arrested under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and will be produced in court today.